K-9, Sheriff’s Officer Help Locate Special Olympics Athlete

K9 Maverick & Mercer County Sheriff's Officer David Smithson.
K9 Maverick & Mercer County Sheriff’s Officer David Smithson.

A 23 year-old autistic soccer player who participates in Special Olympics wandered away from his game at the Lawrenceville School Sunday at noon and went missing.

About two hours later, K-9 Maverick Officer David Smithson locked on a scent and assisted local police, firefighters and others in the search for the athlete, who was found on Carter Road, roughly 4.5 miles away, by Hopewell Police officers. He was unharmed.

“The Mercer County Sheriff’s Office K-9 tracking unit has grown into a highly specialized law enforcement component assisting in the pursuit of missing persons on a moment’s notice,” said Mercer County Sheriff Jack Kemler.